William Ruto Asks Simba Arati To Dump Raila And Join UDA: "Hata Mimi Nilikuwa ODM"

• President William Ruto wondered why the ODM party has been staging protests against his government, yet he was once a member of the party
• Ruto asked Governor Simba Arati to follow his political route by quitting the Raila Odinga-led party
• The call by Ruto comes days after Arati affirmed that Ruto defeated Raila fairly in the 2022 presidential race

Kisii - President William Ruto has returned to Kisii county to launch a series of development projects.

During his Friday, August 25, tour, Ruto asked Kisii governor Simba Arati to ditch the ODM party led by Raila Odinga and join the Kenya Kwanza Alliance.

Why Ruto wants Simba Arati to quit ODM

Ruto reminded the Kisii county boss that he was a founding member of the Orange party and that Arati could equally quit ODM.

"Simba Arati has said I was part of ODM, and it is true. Because it is true, I was an ODM member, and the way I decamped, even you Simba should do the same and we work together," Ruto said.

In what appeared to be his determination to win over Arati, the president said his decision to quit ODM saw him become the Kenyan president after serious political organisation.

"And you see the way I decamped, I organized myself, even you, you never know how it can work for you," he added.

Ruto, who spoke in Nyamasege, further asked ODM members to stop staging demonstrations against his Kenya Kwanza administration because he represented ODM interests, having been a member in the past.

"Because I was in ODM, tell those planning protests, why are they planning against their own who is now the president? How can you plan against your own who is the president?" Ruto posed.

Simba Arati admits Ruto defeated Raila

Meanwhile, Governor Arati acknowledged President Ruto as the August 9 General Election winner.

During an interdenominational prayer service at Nyanturago Stadium, Arati said he had decided to work with the government for the sake of development in his county.

“As the Kisii governor, I am ready to work with the Kenya Kwanza government because as governors, we need to work with the national government for the sake of development in the counties,” Arati told the congregation that Ruto was in-attendance.

Arati teased the president, telling him that he was in ODM but left after falling out with the former prime minister and now is the head of state.

“President, you won. You were in ODM, you walked with Raila and after some time, you left and started working with Uhuru Kenyatta because you were straightforward,” he observed.

Arati supports peace talks

The former Dagoretti North MP championed dialogue between Kenya Kwanza and Azimio la Umoja to address the political bad blood in the country that has led to the death of over 20 Kenyans in the past few months.

“Right now, everyone is congratulating you but Raila is leading the opposition and we are following him but we want you to call him and talk but we do not want a coalition government,” the governor said.